WALKER -- A devastated 17-year-old is wracked with guilt and worry as she watches the recovery of friends -- passengers in the car she was driving Saturday night that was slammed by a semi-truck.

Denisse Gavin, of Walker, was driving a 1995 Nissan car north on Pine Island Drive NW in Algoma Township with five teen-age passengers on the way to a party.

She stopped at the flashing light and thought the truck approaching on 13 Mile Road, driven by Robert Vanhuis of Hamilton, was going to stop, police said. But 13 Mile Road NW has the right-of-way, and the flashing red light is for Pine Island Drive only.

She pulled out and the car was hit broadside, police said. The impact crushed the Nissan's passenger side.

All the car's occupants except Gavin were take to the hospital.

The novice driver, who received her license only a few months ago, was not at school Monday, according to her mother, Maria Mursch.

"She just got bruises and scrapes, but emotionally, she's in bad shape," Mursch said Monday.

Mursch said the girls were all close friends at and away from Kenowa Hills High School, which they all attended.

Monday, Neila Pacheco, 16, and her sister, Aleana Pacheco, 17, are in fair condition at Spectrum Health Butterworth hospital. MacKenzie Berens, 16, was also at Butterworth in serious condition.

Rebecca Redder, 17, was in good condition at Saint Mary's Health Care.

The most seriously injured was 16-year-old Taylor Jones, who remains in critical condition.

"(Taylor) was sitting next to Denisse when the accident happened," said Mursch. "They're best friends."

Mursch said her daughter believed the truck was supposed to stop and was horrified as she watched rescue workes cut her friends out of the mangled car.

"People need to know there was no alcohol or drugs at all," said Mursch. "This was just a terrible accident."

The Kent County Sheriff's Department did test for alcohol and said there is no indication it was a factor. Police have not issued citations but said the investigation continues and information will be given to the Kent County prosecutor's office.

Mursch said the family is not spending energy speculating about the investigation, but that her daughter has been worried about the well-being of her friends while also dealing with her own trauma.

"Right now, we're trying to concentrate on our daughter," she said. "It's going to take some time to deal with this. She does feel guilty about it."